1. Not all students are excited to work with the iPad. There is a stereotype that exists that is something to the tune of, all members of the current generation are technologically-savvy. These stereotypes, like most others, deserve to be silenced. Students are individuals. Each of them brings something unique to the classroom environment. One of the gravest errors we, as educators, can make is assuming they are each fashioned from the same cookie-cutter. Research question answered? Yes
2. Funding is more of an issue than I had hoped it would be. Sadly, it appears that more affluent districts and schools are more successful at gaining the funding that makes having iPads in the classroom a possibility. This is going to ensure the achievement gap continues to grow in our country. Research question answered? Yes
3. I was surprised to learn that not all schools and districts require the same degree of teacher training and preparedness. This seems, to me, an invitation for trouble. My personal opinion is that teacher training should be equipped with a strong support system. Without a support system, teachers may easily become disenchanted, disillusioned, and overwhelmed. Research question answered? Yes
4. I was happy to learn that, in some schools, teachers who have more experience with technology (i.e., the iPad) assist those teachers who struggle the most. Even though I no longer possess the transcript from our conversation, when I first met with Lexington School District 1's Technology Integration Specialist Ron Bosch, he made it very clear that not all teachers were accepting the transition to the iPad with ease and comfort. A handful of teachers were resisting the 1:1 migration rather fiercely, he said (Ron Bosch, personal communication, September 2, 2014). Research question answered? Yes
5. The possibilities of the iPad are truly limitless, and just as exciting. And, guess what? The potential just keeps growing and growing! Research question answered? Yes
6. Classroom management is the key to iPads being effective, successful tools in any classroom. I know I have mentioned this several times throughout the course of this portion of the WIKI, but allow me to say it once more: without effective classroom management, the educational experience is lost. Joseph Cussen reported how he likes to position his students in a circle; this way, when he circulates the room, he can see the screen of every student (J. Cussen, personal communication, December 10, 2014). With programs such as LanSchool, teachers can gain more confidence and learn to teach students to remain accountable for their actions, even (especially!) in the electronic realm. Research question answered? Yes
Discoveries:
1. Not all students are excited to work with the iPad. There is a stereotype that exists that is something to the tune of, all members of the current generation are technologically-savvy. These stereotypes, like most others, deserve to be silenced. Students are individuals. Each of them brings something unique to the classroom environment. One of the gravest errors we, as educators, can make is assuming they are each fashioned from the same cookie-cutter.
Research question answered? Yes
2. Funding is more of an issue than I had hoped it would be. Sadly, it appears that more affluent districts and schools are more successful at gaining the funding that makes having iPads in the classroom a possibility. This is going to ensure the achievement gap continues to grow in our country.
Research question answered? Yes
3. I was surprised to learn that not all schools and districts require the same degree of teacher training and preparedness. This seems, to me, an invitation for trouble. My personal opinion is that teacher training should be equipped with a strong support system. Without a support system, teachers may easily become disenchanted, disillusioned, and overwhelmed.
Research question answered? Yes
4. I was happy to learn that, in some schools, teachers who have more experience with technology (i.e., the iPad) assist those teachers who struggle the most. Even though I no longer possess the transcript from our conversation, when I first met with Lexington School District 1's Technology Integration Specialist Ron Bosch, he made it very clear that not all teachers were accepting the transition to the iPad with ease and comfort. A handful of teachers were resisting the 1:1 migration rather fiercely, he said (Ron Bosch, personal communication, September 2, 2014).
Research question answered? Yes
5. The possibilities of the iPad are truly limitless, and just as exciting. And, guess what? The potential just keeps growing and growing!
Research question answered? Yes
6. Classroom management is the key to iPads being effective, successful tools in any classroom. I know I have mentioned this several times throughout the course of this portion of the WIKI, but allow me to say it once more: without effective classroom management, the educational experience is lost. Joseph Cussen reported how he likes to position his students in a circle; this way, when he circulates the room, he can see the screen of every student (J. Cussen, personal communication, December 10, 2014). With programs such as LanSchool, teachers can gain more confidence and learn to teach students to remain accountable for their actions, even (especially!) in the electronic realm.
Research question answered? Yes